Chapter 14: We Cannot Go Back



Memorable Passage(s):

Could a part of a body be so hated, so useless, so meaningless to the other organs that they could wish its destruction? Or could a group of cells try to attack another group of cells, with the purpose of ridding the body of their supposedly harmful presence? Perhaps the targeted cells were in fact harmful. Then the body's effects to protect itself were reasonable, even wholesome. But how could this be in this situation? What harm were these Germans, who happened to be Jews, to other Germans?
p.298

Summary:

The chapter opens with a description of the trial being tedious. We learn Johann is missing Helga more and more and has been having a dream where Helga is trapped in a house during a bombing. We also learn two weeks has passed since he began the letter to Helga. Back before the war, Johann blames the Jews for problems in Germany. He is becoming more involved with the Party at this time. Johann meets a woman and her twelve-year-old daughter in the Policlinic. He is hesitant to treat the badly hurt Jewish girl, examines her briefly when her mother pleads, and then insists they go to the Jewish Policlinic instead. We then learn Phillip has a first-hand account of Kristallnacht when he is walking home from the Jewish Policlinic.


Characters:


Doctor Wolfram Seiver- A Nazi doctor who displayed skeletons in Dachau.

Gacleita Herr Sreicher- Newspaper editor.

Bürgermeister Liebel- Politiian, Mayor.

Der Stürmer- Cheif Nazi administrator for the city and district.

Heinzel- Paul-Adolf’s friend.

Frau Roen and Sophie- House was broke into and Sophie was badly beaten.

Herr Plommers- Latin teacher.

Sadie- Injured Jewish girl that Philipp helps

Birnberger and Saperstein- Jewish children who had to leave school.


Key Concepts & Events:

Auchwitz (285)- concentration camp in Nazi Germany

Ristallnacht (296)- “night of broken glass”; Jewish stores and synagogues were destroid

Hans Sachs Platz (288)- plaza in Nuremberg

Bürgermeiter (289)- the highest official in state government; mayor

Essenweistraße (289) hotel in Nuremberg

Hauptbahnhof (294)- main rilwy station in Berlin

Dachau (286)- concentration camp; first regular camp established in Gremany

Prisoner’s Dock (287)- were Nazi officials sit during their trials

Führer (289)- leader in Germany title

Paulcen (290)- term of endearment from Joann’s parents

Hitler Youth (292)- progam initated to brainwash young boys in Nazi Germany to hate the Jewish population

Hindenburg (285)- Leader of Germany before Hitler took control

Hallplatz (294)- performing place in Nuremberg


Vocabulary:


Deposition (289)- a pretrial interrogation of a witness; usually done in a lawyer's office

Self-Anointed (288)- self-proclaimed; to dedicate to the service of God without influence of others

Fervor (292)- state of being emotionally aroused and worked up

Infidelity (296)-quality of being unfaithful

Tourniquets (298)- bandage that stops the flow of blood

Congregate (298)- brought together into group or crowd

Festering (298)- ripening and generating puss

Swath (299)- path or strip

Scrolls (298)- document that can be rolled up